Discrimination of liver cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis by analysis of serum cholinesterase isozymes using affinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A or wheat germ agglutinin.

Isozymic alteration of serum cholinesterase (ChE) was investigated in patients with chronic liver diseases using affinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A (Con A) or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). On Con A-containing agarose gel electrophoresis, three bands with enzyme activity (named bands I to III, from the anodic side to the cathodic) were observed in sera of normal controls. Disappearance of band II was observed in 50% (15/30) of cirrhotic patients, but only one of 20 patients with chronic hepatitis lacked band II of the serum ChE isozymes. Meanwhile, WGA-containing agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that normal controls had four ChE isozymes (named bands I to IV from the anodic side to the cathodic). These four isozymes were also observed in patients with chronic hepatitis. However approximately 67% (20/30) of cirrhotic patients lacked band II of ChE isozymes. When these two affinity electrophoreses were used in combination, 22 (73%) of 30 cirrhotic patients had isozymic alteration of their serum ChE on either Con A-containing or WGA-containing agarose gel electrophoresis, or both. Thus, affinity electrophoreses with Con A and WGA seemed to be useful methods in differentiating liver cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis.

[Experimental study on lymphatic spread in subcutaneously inoculated cancer with special reference to surgery and nutrition].

Two strains of ascitic tumor (AH109A, AH272 ) were subcutaneously injected into the foot of normally feed and protein deficient rats to study lymphatic spread of cancer. Survival and incidence of lymphatic metastases were determined following surgery for tumor-inoculated rats. In the normally fed rats, tumor cells were always demonstrated in popliteal lymph nodes 2 hours after AH109A inoculation. Sixty-seven percent survival was obtained in the control rats with amputation of the foot 2 hours after AH109A inoculation whereas 100% survival was obtained in the protein deficient rats with the similar treatment. Moreover 100% survival was achieved in both groups when foot amputation with popliteal lymphadenectomy was performed. On the other hand, no survival was obtained, and obvious distant lymph nodes metastases were observed in the rats in which the popliteal lymph node was excised prior to AH109A inoculation. Similar results were obtained after surgery in the AH272 inoculated rats. These findings suggest that the regional lymph nodes serve as a mechanical and functional barrier against the early spread of cancer cells within the lymphatic systems.

Pituitary-thyroid function in patients with breast cancer.

The present studies were carried out to clarify the relationship between thyroid function and breast diseases. Neither the mean value of radioiodine uptake rate nor thyroxin (T4) level was significantly different in the patients with benign breast diseases and those with breast cancer or in localized and metastasized cancer groups. As these results were obtained by conventional studies, it became necessary to investigate the dynamic changes of pituitary and thyroid hormones after thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation. There were no significant differences in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, tri-iodothyronine (T3) or T4 level before and after TRH stimulation among the benign disease, localized and metastasized cancer groups.

Biological characteristics of breast cancer in obesity.

Biological characteristics of breast cancer in obese patients were investigated in comparison with non-obese patients. 134 patients with breast cancer were divided into three categories; thin, normal and obese based upon the height and weight. Five-year survival rate was 55.6% in the obese patients, whereas it was 79.9% in the non-obese patients including thin and normal subjects. A cause for unfavorable prognosis in the obese patients with breast cancer was clinically and histologically investigated. It was found that in the obese patients primary tumor, regional lymph node engorgement and clinical stage were relatively advanced, scirrhous carcinoma was predominant ( 46%), tumor margin was more infiltrattive (gamma type 64%), the incidence of vascular involvement was high (73%), lymph node metastasis was also frequent (58%) and nuclear grade was low.